Window construction.



No. 778,456. PATENTBD DEC. 27., 1904. E. H. LUNKEN.

WINDOW GONSTRUGTEON,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

.W/ 71/55 (556. N v/r/v ray/=2 No. 778,456. PATENTED DEC. 27, 1904. E.H. LUNKEN.

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 27, I904.

EDMUND H. LUNKEN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 778,456, dated. December27, 1904.

Application filed February 11, 1904. Serial No. 193,176.

To [LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND H. LUNKEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in I/Vindow Constructions, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to window constructions of the general formdisclosed in applications of the United States filed by Bernard J.Hausfeld and Edmund H. Lunken September 1a, 1903, Serial No. 173,118,and January 9, 190a, Serial No. 188,199, and concerns more particularlymeans whereby the window-sash if left open will be automatically closedin the event of fire taking place adjacent the said window.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is acentral vertical sectional view of a window constructionembodying one form of my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective View,partly in section, of the lower part of the window illustrated inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the manner ofconnecting the sashes to balance one by the weight of the other. Fig. 4is a vertical sectional View of another embodiment of my invention. Fig.5 is adetail view, enlarged, of part of Fig. i. Fig. 6 is a front viewof a part of a sash, showing another embodiment of my invention. Fig. 7is a sectional view on line '7 7 of Fig. 6.

Referring first to that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 1indicates a main frame, of channeled metal, adapted to be secured in thewindow-opening, and 2 is a secondary frame, also preferably of metal andarranged in the main frame, and, as in the construction above referredto, said secondary frame is arranged to swing abouthorizontally-disposed pivots, one of which is indicated at 3, though theinvention may be used with a window swinging about vertically-disposedpivots. The upper sash is indicated at 4: and the lower sash at 5,arranged to slide in guideways in the secondary swinging frame. Thesesashes, as in the applications above mentioned, are balanced so that inall positions of the secondary swinging frame the balanced conditionwill be maintained, and in the present instance the balancing isobtained by a connection between the sashes themselves, a rack 6 beingformed on each sash and this being connected by a pinion 7 on the framemeshing with both, so that in all positions of the sashes or thesecondary frame one sash will balance the other. This rack-and-pinionconnection constitutes the main balancing means for the said sashes,though I do not wish to limit myself in this respect.

My present improvements consist in means whereby the balanced conditionof the sash will be destroyed in the event of a fire occurring inproximity to the window, so that should the window be left open it willbe closed by the overbalancing of one part in relation to the other.

In carrying out my invention I employ a weight or weights on the sash orsashes held by a fusible connection which will be exposed to the heat ofany adjacent fire.

As an illustration of one embodiment of my invention I show in thedrawings a weight 8, Fig. 1, arranged on the inner side of the uppersash and extending along the top rail thereof. This is held in place byflexible wires 9 passing through openings 9 in the weight and in thesash and having caps or heads 10 11 of fusible material, the latterbeing on the inner side and bearing against the weight, while the formeris on the outer side of the window and bears against the sash. Both areexposed and will fuse when subjected to a sufliciently hightemperaturesay 1-30 Fahrenheit. When so fused, the weight 8 will drop,owing to the fact that the wires or rods are of thin flexible material.In order to insure the dropping of the weight, it is supported on anarrow ledge 12 on the sash, which is slightly inclined and receives thelower inclined edge of the weight. The upper edge of the weight, asindicated in Fig. 2, may be cut away on an inclination at 13, so thatthere will be no tendency for the weight to bind against the sash at itsupper edge. It will be noticed that the weight is sustained by theledge, and the office of the wire rod and fusible caps is merely to holdthe weight on the ledge. IVith the invention as thus far described wewill suppose that the sash is balanced by suitable means and carries theweight, as above described. Now in case a fire occurs and the sash is inan open position as soon as the flame or sufliciently high heat reachesthe fusible cap either on the inside or outside of the window the weightwill be released and will fall off of the supporting-ledge, and thecounterbalance existing between the sash and the balancing means beingthus destroyed the sash will be closed automatically.

In the complete embodiment of my invention, as illustratedin Fig. 1, Iarrange a weight in connection with both the upper and lower portions ofthe lower sash, in addition to furnishing the weight in connection withthe upper sash, as above described, those shown at 14 being of the sameform as that above described and being supported on a ledge, as beforedescribed, and in addition I provide upper ledges 15, one for eachweight, which serve as protectors and prevent displacement of the weightwhen pressure is applied in raising or lowering the sash.

The lower weight may be provided with a finger-grip at 16 for use whenraising the lower sash.

\Yith the complete arrangement disclosed in Fig. 1 if the sashes areopened slightly an automatic action will result whether the heat orflame strikes either the lower or the upper part of the window, and inthe construction above referred to wherein the sash are interconnectedand are balanced one by the other the complete closing of the windowwill result from the release of the weight at either the upper or lowerpart of the window. The weight is provided at the upper part of thelower sash to meet the conditions when the lower sash is raised to thetop of the Window and the upper sash lowered.

I placeall the weights on the inner side of the window, so that theywill all drop on the inside the window and will not endanger the livesof persons on the outside of the building.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described two weights on the lower sashand one on the upper sash, it will be readily understood that the lowerweight may be dispensed with and the upper one only used, the sameresults being obtained, or but one weight on the lower sash may beemployed, the only reason for employing a plurality of weights being toinsure a quicker operation of the window in case of fire.

Referring now to another embodiment of my invention, as shown in Fig.4', I may employ a weight 16, held undera shield 17 on the meeting-railof the lower sash by a flexible cord or other flexible connectionconnected to and having a nut 19 at its lower end, upon which the weightrests. The other end of the cord passes over a pulley 20 on the frameand is attached at 21 to the top rail of the upper sash. The sashesbeing interconnected, as above described, by the racks and pinion, theflexible connection will remain taut between the lower sash and the topof the window in all positions to which the sashes may be adjusted. Uponthe occurrence of afire and the fusing or burning of the cord or uponthe melting of the nut 19, which is of fusible material, the weight willfall, the counterbalance relation of the sashes will be destroyed, andthe sashes will close. The rope, as shown in Fig. 6, is located at thecenter of the window, though a separate rope may be used for each sideof the window.

The preferred form of my invention isillustrated in Figs. 6 and 7', inwhich the weight 22 is slotted vertically near each end and receivesstuds 23, passing through the said slots into the meeting-rail of thelower sash. The studs prevent all movement of the weight horizontally,but permit vertical movement thereof. The weight is retained on thestuds by nuts and Washers 23. The combustible or fusible cord isconnected with the weight and with the upper sash, and it normally holdsthe weight slightly raised in relation to the studs or in suspension, sothat the force of the weight will be acting fully on the upper sash.When the rope is ruptured by the fire or heat, the weight will drop, andthus will lighten the upper sash and increase the weight of the lowersash, thus causing the sashes to be closed. By this construction theweight will remain attached to the lower sash by the burning or fusingof the cord, wire, orother connection or upon the melting of the fusiblenut.

It will be understood that where herein I use the term, combustible orfusible connection I use the same in a generic sense, to mean the cord,the nut, or both, or any equivalent device to be affected by heat andalter the relation between the weight and the sash or sashes.

Excepting where particularly specified in the accompanying claims, I donot wish to limit myself to any particular style of window constructionor sash-balancing arrangement, as various features may be changedwithout departing from the essential principles of my invention.

It will be noticed that in the two forms of my invention first describedI do not depend upon the weight to apply force or power in operating anypart when it drops away from its normal position; but, on the contrary,I depend solely upon the lightening of the sash, due to the absence ofthe weight, to effect the automatic operation. In the third form of myinvention, however, I utilize in addition to the lightening effect asregards one sash the positive action of the weight in relation to theother sash. In other words, the weight is transferred from the upper tothe lower sash to apply its positive force to the latter.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with a pair of interconnectedsliding sashes, a weight associated with one of the sashes and means forholding said weight in place adapted to be parted by heat, said sashwith its associated weight balancing the other sash whereby when saidweight falls the sashes will close because one overbalances the other,substantially as described.

2. In combination with a pair of interconnected sashes, a weightarranged on one sash and means adapted to be parted by heat connectingthe said weight with the other sash, one of said sashes overbalancingthe other when the weight is displaced and closing both sashes throughthe connections between them, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a pair of interconnected sashes, a weight movablymounted on one sash and means connecting the said weight with the othersash and adapted to be parted by heat, the said weight when releasedbeing retained by the sash first mentioned, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a pair of interconnected sashes, a weight and meanssuspending the weight from one of thesashes, said means being adapted tobe parted by heat, said weight when released acting on the other sash.

5. In combination a pair of interconnected sashes, a weight havingslots, studs passing through the slots into the sash to hold the weightthereto and allow it movement, and means adapted to be parted by heatand suspending the weight from the other sash, substantially asdescribed.

6. In combination a pair of interconnected sashes, a weight and aflexible connection between the said weight and one of the sashes, therelease of said weight destroying the balanced condition of the sasheswhereby they will close by one sash overbalancing the other and actingthrough the connections between them, substantially as described.

7. In combination a pair of interconnected sashes, a weight arranged onone sash, and a flexible connection between the said weight and theother sash adapted to be parted by heat, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a window-sash and main balancing means a weightindependent of the main balancing means and moving with said sash, meansconnecting the said weight with the sash adapted to be parted by heatand means associated with the window for catching and retaining the saidweight when released from the sash, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND H. LUNKEN.

Witnesses:

Gno. WV. GILMORE, WM. J. SMITH, Jr.

